Here is today's round-up of town planning news from around Ireland, covering proposed State loans for small builders to buy zoned land before planning permission, a 73-home mixed-use scheme in Clonlara, new homes permitted in Dundalk, a town-centre housing application in Clonmel, concern over the concentration of solar farms in mid-Waterford and a request for further information on the Oriel offshore wind farm.
Small builders could get State loans to buy zoned land before planning permission
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris is to bring proposals to Cabinet on Wednesday that would allow Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI) to lend small builders money to buy land already zoned for housing before planning permission is granted; at present HBFI finance is available only once a site has permission. Research for HBFI found that more than 90% of home-builders deliver fewer than 50 homes a year, and only 11 consistently deliver more than 300. If approved, a general scheme of the Bill will be published and sent for pre-legislative scrutiny.
Source: The Irish Times (27 October 2026)
73-home mixed-use scheme proposed in Clonlara, Co Clare
Plans have been lodged with Clare County Council for a mixed-use development of 73 homes in the village of Clonlara, made up of 67 houses and six first-floor apartments, together with three commercial units including a shop and a new paved plaza. The 4.13-hectare application, received on 20 October and accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement, also provides for land to be prepared for a public park and playground for the local authority. Observations can be made until 23 November, with a decision due by 14 December.
Source: Irish Independent (27 October 2026)
46 homes permitted on the Long Avenue, Dundalk
Louth County Council has granted Pangreen Limited permission, subject to 16 conditions, for 46 homes in a three- to four-storey development at the corner of The Long Avenue and Tom Bellew Avenue in Dundalk. The scheme is a mix of apartments and duplexes, with 47 parking spaces, a new cycle lane on Tom Bellew Avenue and pedestrian links. The application included a masterplan for the wider lands to the north, where a discount foodstore has previously been permitted.
Source: Louth Live (26 October 2026)
Permission sought for 45 homes in Clonmel town centre
Ormonde Homes Ltd has lodged an application with Tipperary County Council for 27 houses and 18 apartments on a 2.09-hectare site off Davis Road, behind Lidl in Clonmel, the first phase of a scheme that would eventually bring 99 homes to the area. Nine of the units would be social housing, and an archaeological exclusion zone has been built into the layout following site investigations. A second phase is expected to be lodged in the coming weeks.
Source: Tipperary Live (26 October 2026)
Councillors question scale of solar farm applications in mid-Waterford
Councillors in the Comeragh area of Co Waterford have raised concerns about the number of large solar farm applications on agricultural land around Clonea-Power, Stradbally, Portlaw and Kilmeaden. A senior planner at Waterford City and County Council said that, in the absence of national guidelines, each application has to be assessed on its own merits, and that the council has long called for such guidelines. One councillor intends to table a motion seeking a pause on further data centre permissions in the county pending a national assessment of their impacts.
Source: Waterford News & Star (26 October 2026)
Further information sought on Oriel offshore wind farm
An Coimisiún Pleanála issued a further-information request on 13 October on the planning application for the proposed 375MW Oriel offshore wind farm off Co Louth, covering matters including marine archaeology at the Dunany Point landfall, tourism impacts and bat surveys. The developer has until 14 January 2027 to respond, and consideration of the application is paused in the meantime. Separately, Oriel Windfarm Limited has applied to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority to extend its route-to-market deadline to the end of 2028.
Source: Afloat (24 October 2026)
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